Team India veteran pacer Mohammed Shami took an indirect dig at former captain-coach duo of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri for his exclusion from the playing XI for the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Shami was one of the best bowlers for Team India in the 2019 World Cup as he picked 14 wickets, including a fifer, in four matches. Surprisingly, the 33-year-old was not picked in the playing XI in a crucial semifinal against New Zealand. Team management went with two pacers and a spinner for the knockout match.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's Podcast, Mohammed Shami said that he was ignored from the playing XI despite performing well in the tournament. The pacer added that there was no proper communication with regards to his exclusion from the 2019 World Cup semifinal.
"Mere dimaag mein sawaal aata hai, team ko joh players chaiye joh perform karta hai. 3 matches mein 13 wickets li hai, aur kya loge aap mere se?'. Nah mere pass sawal hai naa uska answer hai. Mujhe mauka doge toh mein jaake baat karunga. Apna skills dikhaunga jab mere haath mein ball hogi." Shami said.
"Aapne merko 3 matches diya aur 13 wickets li. Hum New Zealand se har gaye (semifinal). 4 matches mein 14 wickets li." he added.
(My mind is filled with questions, the team needs players who perform. I have taken 13 wickets in 3 matches, what more do you expect from me? Neither have I questions nor the answer. If you give me a chance, I will go and talk. I will show my skills when the ball is in my hand. You gave me three matches and I picked 13 wickets. We lost to New Zealand. I took 14 wickets in 4 matches.)
Team India's hopes of winning the ODI World Cup for the third time were dashed after losing to eventual runners-up New Zealand in the semifinal, Chasing 240-run target, the Men in Blue were bundled out for 221 in 49.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was the top-scorer with 77 off 59 balls, but his effort went in vain as Team India fell 19-run short of the target.
Four years later, in 2023, India had a shot at winning the ODI World Cup after reaching the Final without losing a single match. However, Rohit Sharma and his boys suffered a heartbreaking defeat against the sixth-time champions Australia in the title clash at Ahmedabad in November last year.
Mohammed Shami was India's highest wicket-taker in 2023 ODI World Cup
Mohammed Shami was one of the star players for Team India in the 2023 ODI World Cup despite their defeat in the Final. Shami was highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 24 wickets, including 3 fifers and a four-wicket haul, at an average of 10.70 and an economy rate 5.26 in seven matches.
Shami didn't play initial four matches of the tournament due to playing XI combination. But, the 33-year-old made it to the team after Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, which he suffered during match against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium.
Mohammed Shami made an instant impact with his brilliant bowling performance. His best bowling performance came in the semifinal against New Zealand, registering figures of 7/57 at an average of 5.79 in 9.5 overs.
